Video Vault: Cinema Paradiso

Cinema Paradiso Dir: Giuseppe Tornatore 1988 / Italy, France Rated PG / 123 minutes Vault Rating: 9 A few weeks ago, I told you how I’d just watched this grand old film, “Cinema Paradiso,” in its director’s cut. I told you it was one of the best 24 films of all time. Here...

Video Vault: Vicky Christina Barcelona

Vicky Christina Barcelona Dir: Woody Allen Rated PG-13 / 96 minutes Vault Rating: 6.5 When hot Spanish artist Juan Antonio Gonzalo (Javier Bardem) attempts to seduce two vacationing American women at once, love triangles abound in this mild mannered comedy-romance by Woody Allen. When Juan...

Video Vault: Young at Heart

Young at Heart 2007: Stephen Walker PG - 107 minutes Vault Rating: 9 When I grow up, I want to be in the Young @ Heart Chorus. The Vault Rating of 9 isn't because today's feature is the most cinematically magical. It isn't because the acting is great. Actually, there IS no acting in this charmed...

Video Vault: The Happening

The Happening 2008: M. Night Shyamalan Rated R - 91 minutes Vault Rating: 7 I liked M. Night Shyamalan's "The Happening" better than most critics. Many of the spies likewise have noted that they had reservations about the film afterward and some found the film vaguely disturbing. But count the...

Video Vault: W.

W. 2008- Oliver Stone PG-13 : 131 minutes Vault Rating: 8 There was a line at the Premier Theater in State College that was cordoned off on Friday night's opening of Oliver Stone's latest presidential psychodrama. A sign at the front of the rope line said, "The line for W. starts HERE." Walking...

Video Vault: Triple Threat

Today's Vault is a consideration of a delightful if seldom seen trio of films that you might want to consider. All of them are a little to a lot older and are the product of scattershot viewing of late by your humble host. We feature today a horror film, "The Descent," a foreign film, "4 Months,...

Video Vault: In Bruges

In Bruges 2008 - Martin McDonagh Rated R - 107 minutes Vault Rating: 8 "In Bruges" is that little gem of a movie that Vault lives to find. It is the movie you've probably not seen which exceeds any possible expectations you might have. I've been trying to get Mrs. Vault to stop and look, but she...

Video Vault: Super Hero Soup

Iron Man 2008 - Jon Favreau PG-13: 126 mins. Vault Rating: 8 The Incredible Hulk 2008 - Louis Leterrier PG-13: 114 mins. Vault Rating: 7.5 Marvel Comics continues to be the wellspring of summer blockbusters as "Iron Man" and "The Incredible Hulk" have been more than credible, if not completely...

Video Vault: The Golden Compass

The Golden Compass 2007 - Chris Weitz PG-13: 113 mins Vault Rating:...

Video Vault: Into the Wild, Grizzly Man

Into the Wild 2007 - Sean Penn Rated R - 147 minutes Vault Rating: 8 Grizzly Man 2005 - Werner Herzog Rated R - 108 minutes Vault Rating: 8 We are dealing with two types of extremist today in the Vault. Both of whom reject society in their own ways. Both of whom express that rejection by...

Video Vault: No Country for Old Men

"No Country For Old Men" 2007 - Joel & Ethan Coen Rated R Vault Rating: 8.5 The ending of "No Country for Old Men" leaves one flat. Some in these corners have called it a sort of "Sopranos" ending. This gripping best-picture winner cuts, for some, against the grain of the modern western because...

Video Vault: King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters

The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters 2007 - PG-13 / 79 minutes Vault Rating: 8 It was a day to remember. Vault and Kid Vault had traveled to Playland in State College, Pa. We had designs on playing this great multi-player game called "Trog." It was a pre-historic take on the "Pac-Man" style maze...

Video Vault: Michael Clayton

Michael Clayton 2007 - Tony Gilroy Rated R: 119 minutes Vault Rating: 7 We, here in the vault, love George Clooney. He represents to us the last of the true Hollywood actors in the mold of Clark Gable, Carey Grant and Jimmy Stewart and so many other tried and true, dependable cinematic leads....

Video Vault: The Brave One

The Brave One 2007 - Neil Jordan Rated R - 122 minutes Vault Rating: 7 A Trip Inside the Dark Mind of the Victim Today's feature is a decent run at the vengeance film. "The Brave One" is a little more atmospheric than the standard type in which a crime is committed and the victim sets out to even...

Video Vault: Once

"Once" 2006 - John Carney R / 85 minutes Vault Rating: 8 Glen Hansard has a broken heart. Between shifts at the Hoover repair shop, he takes his battered heart and worn out six string and sings about it on a Dublin street corner for the spare change of passers by. Marketa Irglova's got issues,...